Anyone familiar with the work of sci-fi auteurs Lana and Andy Wachowski knows that they don’t shy from ambitious subjects. Since creating The Matrix in 1999, the siblings have continued to swing for the futuristic fences with V for Vendetta, Cloud Atlas, and, most recently, Jupiter Ascending.
Now, however, they’ve found a new medium for their complex, multipronged stories: Netflix. Tomorrow sees the release of their first-ever streaming series, Sense8. For those who are not predisposed to the supernatural, here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about the plot, characters, and backstory—to prevent any additional head-scratching.
Who’s Behind it?
Andy and Lana Wachowski teamed up with J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5) to create the series. The three all serve as creators, writers, and executive producers on the show.
What is it about?
Sense8, a play on the word “sensate,” follows eight strangers across the globe, each of whom are defined by their geographic location: London, Chicago, San Francisco, Nairobi, Mexico City, Mumbai, Berlin, and Seoul. Following the death of another Sensate—each death of a Sensate brings about eight more—the new cluster is now suddenly emotionally and mentally linked. “Initially they don’t know what the hell is going on, so as they begin to figure it out, we begin to figure it out,” Straczynski told BuzzFeed.
What is it really about?
The implied goal of Sense8 was to simulate a kind of global understanding through the characters’ otherworldly connection. One of the major plot points of the series is sexuality and gender identity. One character on the show struggles with revealing their true sexuality while another is openly transgender, and is played by a transgender actor, Jamie Clayton. Co creator Lana Wachowski made her own transition public in 2012.
Who’s in it?
